Wick Academy beat the young guns of Inverness Caley Thistle
tonight in the semi final of the Menzies Distribution North of Scotland Cup.
This game was drawn as a home tie for Caley, but it was switched to Harmsworth
Park. Forres Mechanics play Nairn County in the other semi final which takes
place tomorrow night.

Academy started the game pretty well but it was the visitors
that drew first blood after 12 minutes. Academy failed to clear their lines in
the first real attack on their goal and after the ball bounced back off an Academy defender Jamie Wilson picked his spot and riffled home a right foot shot off the inside of the post.

Wick Academy 0 - Inverness CT 1

Both Gary Weir and Christopher Blackett had attempts that
flew over the crossbars before the Scorries managed to draw level.

Academy won a free kick about 35 yards from goal. Richard
Macadie swung it into a packed penalty area and the ball fell to Grant Steven who almost burst the net blasting home on the volley from close range.

Wick Academy 1 - Inverness CT 1

Straight from the re-start Caley broke up-field and Calum Ferguson
must have thought he had scored but Michael Steven somehow managed to clear the
ball off the line with a great bit of defensive play.

Back down the other end Davie Allan beat the off-side trap
and raced in on goal. As he entered the penalty area he was taken down by Chris
Brown and referee Alan Hogg pointed to the penalty spot. Richard Macadie
claimed the ball and as cool as you like he sent the young Caley keeper Daniel
Hoban the wrong way and buried the ball in the opposite bottom corner.

Wick Academy 2 - Inverness CT 1

Half Time - Wick Academy 2 - Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1

Academy started the second half on the front foot with Davie
Allan getting a shot on target that went straight to the keeper. Grant Steven
then had a shot that crashed off the Caley cross-bar.

Davie Allan had an attempt saved by keeper Hoban and James
Pickles smoked the follow-up over the bar.

Caley turned the screw and had Academy under the cosh
as they pushed for the equalizer. Some meaty challenges started flying in and Academy
had to be at their defensive best to snuff out the Caley attacks.

Academy supporters had their hearts in their mouths as Sean
McCarthy came to claim a high ball but couldn't hold it and Michael Steven was
again on hand to clear a shot from Calum Ferguson off the line.

Referee Hogg played almost 4 minutes of stoppage time and
with Caley throwing everything they had at the Academy goal there couldn't have
been many finger nails left in a nervous ending to the game. When the final whistle was blown, up went the
Harmsworth Roar as Academy secured their berth in the final which will be played
on the 10th of October at a venue yet to be agreed.